The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor

At 6:00 a.m. on the morning of October 3, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was viciously attacked by Taliban insurgents. The 53 U.S. troops, having been stationed at the bottom of three steep mountains, were severely outmanned by nearly 400 Taliban fighters. Though the Americans ultimately prevailed, their casualties made it one of the war's deadliest battles for U.S. forces. And after more than three years in that dangerous and vulnerable valley a mere 14 miles from the Pakistan border, the U.S. abandoned and bombed the camp.

The Outpost is a heartbreaking chronicle of the rotation of soldiers asked to oversee an underfunded, often thankless mission. The goal was to expand the U.S. Army's reach into the remote northeastern Nuristan Province, where insurgents were streaming in from the Pakistan border. But even at the onset, it was clear to those involved that the outpost was one step short of a death trap, situated at the bottom of a valley with difficult access by air and road.

The narration was superb, and the story (after awhile) seemed to blend together. Personal stories of the soldiers, only to eventually find out their common fate.

It was nice to not have to read another Special Forces, Navy Seal, Delta Force etc. self absorbed book. With those books, a common theme surfaces and it ends up being a self love fest of how great they think they are. These guys are REGULAR SOLDIERS, which are the majority of the American military. This is a close look to what life is like for enlisted soldiers (and a few good officers) who scrub toilets in the morning, and fight battles in the evening.

Tapper writes with a journalistic approach, as if you're reading a long article in Newsweek for example.

This is one of the better books out there on the Afghan War, and if you're interested in further reading, definitely check out "Outlaw Platoon."

The Longest Day: June 6, 1944

>The Longest Day is Cornelius Ryan’s unsurpassed account of D-day, a book that endures as a masterpiece of military history. In this compelling tale of courage and heroism, glory and tragedy, Ryan painstakingly re-creates the fateful hours that preceded and followed the massive invasion of Normandy to retell the story of an epic battle that would turn the tide against world fascism.

The most surprising thing about Cornelius Ryan’s D-Day classic The Longest Day is how short it is. This, combined with Ryan’s novelistic writing style, made for a surprisingly quick read.

Ryan flew along on bomber missions with the U.S. Air Force and was later embedded with General Patton’s Third Army. When he decided to write about D-Day, he and a team of researchers sent questionnaires around the globe. These went to all manner of participant, from the German high command to French Resistance members to ordinary civilians. According to Ryan, a thousand interviews were collected, collated, cross-checked, and then bolstered with further questions.

The ground-level storytelling is so propulsive you don’t really stop to think how all these disparate anecdotes twine together to form a historical result. Ryan’s style is such that you can be absorbed into these accounts despite having no idea – spatially, temporally – where many of these individual actions are taking place.

Overall: The author does history a great service by showing it for the endlessly fascinating thing that it is. History should never be boring. History is life, only yesterday. Ryan’s version of D-Day will be read and reread as long as people care about World War II.

Clockwork

A tormented apprentice clock-maker - and a deadly knight in armour. A mechanical prince - and the sinister Dr Kalmenius, who some say is the devil... Wind up these characters, fit them into a story on a cold winter's evening and suddenly life and the story begin to merge - almost like clockwork...

Captivating from page one this book is simultaneously beautiful, enchanting and haunting; a story that will keep the audience guessing every step of the way. It is dark & a little scary, but it is absolutely brilliant! While listening to this, I occasionally felt as though I was back in school as a little kid, gathered around the teacher while clutching to every word wondering what will come next.

In the fascinating world of stories, anything is possible. If wonderful or magical things happen, we sometimes wish that we could be part of the story; if terrible or scary things happen, we sit in comfort knowing that we are safe in our own reality. Or are we? What if the characters from a terrifying story were to walk through our front door? What would we do then?

The narrator was excellent & made the story even better.

Overall: This book is a great stepping stone for introducing young readers & adults to the amazing works of Philip Pullman. Well worth your time.

Theft of Swords: Riyria Revelations, Volume 1

Acclaimed author Michael J. Sullivan created instant best sellers with his spellbinding Riyria Revelations series. This first volume introduces Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater, two enterprising thieves who end up running for their lives when they’re framed for the death of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy bigger than they can imagine, their only hope is unraveling an ancient mystery - before it’s too late.

I was a little hesitant to start this book, as I don't delve into the fantasy genre much. Elves, wizards, and dragons usually don't appeal to me, despite reading rave reviews for many fantasy books out there. I got this book from the daily deal on Audible's website.

Quite simply, this is classic fantasy with a modern twist. The two main characters are an elite unit of "fixers" for hire. From the beginning to the end, they're put in situations that make the reader think it's the end for them, yet somehow they squeeze through the cracks and persevere every time. It certainly had it's similarities with Game of Thrones, but with a dash of Lord of the Rings as well. There’s no major plot twists, just a good & fun mystery involving interesting characters that make for an engrossingly fun romp.

I thought the narrator was excellent. He fit the story perfectly and used distinct character voices that don't confuse the reader (listener.)

Overall: I'm actually quite interested in continuing this series. The book is pretty long so I might check out some shorter books first, but I'm still very interested though. I never thought I'd say this, but I actually kinda like fantasy now...but only by Michael J. Sullivan, so far.

The Story of World War II

Drawing on previously unpublished eyewitness accounts, prizewinning historian Donald L. Miller has written what critics are calling one of the most powerful accounts of warfare ever published. Here are the horror and heroism of World War II in the words of the men who fought it, the journalists who covered it, and the civilians who were caught in its fury. Miller gives us an up-close, deeply personal view of a war that was more savagely fought - and whose outcome was in greater doubt - than one might imagine. This is the war that Americans on the home front would have read about had they had access to previously censored testimony.

I randomly found out about this book from the recommended history category books on Audible. I've always been a history buff and have read countless articles and books about World War II.

There are several stories and facts that kept even the typical WW2 enthusiast wanting more. These days, it's hard to find non-recycled material in books like these.

You'll find that much of the history is told in the words of soldiers or journalists embedded with the American troops or sailors. It definitely focuses on the American side of the war, but I recommend it to anyone who would like to know more about World War II without getting into the boring details. If you're interested in more WW2; give "Pacific Crucible" a shot, I think you'll like it just as well.

Overall: This book was perfect for the layman's WW2 interest. It was rarely boring and kept my attention throughout most of the reading. The narration was good as well. I'd give it a 4.5 for sure.

Steelheart: Reckoners, Book 1

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills. Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them. And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father.

There is more going on in Steelheart than one might think from a first glance. Initially marketed as a young adult novel, it is full of content that most mature individuals could enjoy. Rather than swords and sorcery, Sanderson's premise is flight, telekinesis, invisibility, & fire. It's as if the supernatural powers of Superman, the Flash, and Captain America didn't just make them more than human, but also corrupted them.

On the other side of things though, I didn't feel the book grasped me like some of the other reviewers. Yes, there were some pretty cool little gadgets and action scenes. But there was something there that didn't send me over the top spinning on my seat reaction.

Sometimes, I felt like everything went a bit too well for the characters, and that is probably what bumps this down to a 4 instead of 5 stars. Aside from a few minor caveats, nothing bad really happened to the characters, and it was sort of unbelievable.

Overall: This book was fairly predictable in many ways. A good read for hard core fantasy readers, but it might be a little too much for middle of the road types. I'll probably read the sequel...maybe.

Redeployment

Phil Klay's Redeployment takes readers to the frontlines of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, asking us to understand what happened there, and what happened to the soldiers who returned. Interwoven with themes of brutality and faith, guilt and fear, helplessness and survival, the characters in these stories struggle to make meaning out of chaos. Across nations and continents, Klay sets in devastating relief the two worlds a soldier inhabits: one of extremes and one of loss.

The horrors of the bureaucracy, folly, & brotherhood of war. It's all here in stark, sharp prose. It's the modern Iraq-war version of "The Things They Carried."

I thought this was pretty good, but not worthy of the National Book Award. For one thing, it is very difficult to distinguish any of the characters from each other. By the end of the book, I did not feel like I remembered many distinct characters or stories. It does provide interesting insight into what the war in Iraq was like, however.One thing that detracted from my reading was a lot of military acronyms that I mostly had no clue what they meant. A few stories were very disjointed to read because of so much military jargon. I felt like I needed time to absorb each story which related its own notable and important perspective.

Overall: You're not going to finish this book and feel good about it. Think of a dark, gloomy, and rainy day. That's how you'll feel when you finish this book.

The Winter of Frankie Machine

Frank Machianno is a late-middle-aged ex-surf bum who runs a bait shack on the San Diego waterfront. An affable Italian with a love of people and life, he's a stand-up businessman, devoted father, and a beloved fixture in the community. He's also a hit man - specifically, a retired hit man. Back in the day when he was one of the most feared members of the West Coast Mafia, he was known as Frankie Machine.

Surf City Swami says:"The Winter of Frankie Machine is a ray of sunshine"

This novel is a pretty standard "old guy who used to be a badass has to confront some old enemies" story that reminds me of a 1970s action movie starring Charles Bronson. It has a good storyline and the characters are well done, especially the main character who's “a likable hit man”. It starts off on a stroll, then it picks up & whoosh! Fast paced with good twists - there is no lull. A nice read.

Overall: If you like crime or mafia books then this is a worthy read. The narrator did a good job. His character voices did mix a little bit, but not to the point that it affected the overall performance.

Legion

Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society.

It's a decent story but I am not as enamored with it as many other Sanderson fans out there. This was my first Sanderson novel (short story), and I can't say it grabbed me like other readers. Some readers will give it five stars and say the author's the best that ever lived! (See five star reviews) Was I missing something? Maybe...

I'm not saying I won't read another Sanderson book, and I plan on starting a longer series very soon. But I'm expecting a little more spark to the stories, then I'll gladly jump on board with those devoted fans of his.

Overall: Based on other reviews and how much I remember, it might be a repeat for me. This is a middle of the road book for me at the moment.

Free: Christmas Eve, 1914

In 1914, the war which was to have been wrapped up by Christmas had - in reality - only just begun, as all sides entrenched themselves deeper into the Great War. Christmas Eve, 1914 follows one company of British officers as they rotate forward to spend their Christmas on the front lines, a mere 80 yards from the German guns. Upper- and working-class men and boys are thrown together into one trench and struggle to survive.

This drama has an excellent cast and does a very good job at throwing in sound effects and all. I kind of wish a lot of other audiobooks did the same as well.

I thought the story was a little corny. Some parts were interesting but it almost felt like a musical at times, with the Christmas carol singing. Although those parts are brief, I still fast forwarded through the singing. However; I'm a bit of a scrooge during Christmas, so that could affect my opinion as well.

Overall: The performance was excellent, yet the story wasn't spectacular. This is geared more towards Christmas time. It wouldn't have the same feel any other time of the year though.

Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West

Author of the National Book Award-winning All the Pretty Horses, Cormac McCarthy is one of the most provocative American stylists to emerge in the last century. The striking novel Blood Meridian offers an unflinching narrative of the brutality that accompanied the push west on the 1850s Texas frontier.

I'll be frank right up front: I loved this book. It's McCarthy has such a seemingly effortless ability to render forth horrific and beautiful descriptions of everything from sunrises to Indian attacks that it's enough to make one weep with envy.

McCarthy certainly gives the lie to the nostalgic romanticizing of the Old West enshrined in American culture; these cowboys 'n Indians aren't film-stock black hats/white hats (as it were), but each as brutal, kill-happy, and merciless as the other. Entire massacres are committed and described by McCarthy as almost trivial, mundane, routine matters; and the blood drips from literally every page. The grue and gore isn't exploitative in the slightest, however, as many other books containing graphic violence are charged with; the combination of McCarthy's palpably sensuous prose and his obvious knowledge of his subject serve not to titillate, but to simply tell a story.

Overall: A deep, searing story where the bad may overtake the good, but the writing style is the gold of this book. This book will stick with you for a long time...

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